Note: Homeopathic Treatment requires strict individualization. Please do not take any medicine without consulting your physician/homeopath.
Autism is the common term for a range of disabilities
medically classified as Pervasive Developmental Disorders
(PDD). Autism/PDD is characterized by qualitative differences
in the development of cognitive, language, social or motor skills,
and these are usually apparent before age three. Research evidence
suggests that autism may result from an underlying difficulty
with expressive movement and its regulation, severely challenging
the individual to keep body movements, including sensory responses,
in control. These sensorimotor problems can make it difficult
to respond consistently and productively to other individuals
and to the environment.
Autism/PDD occurs in approximately fifteen out of
every 10,000 births and is four times more common among males than
females.
Autism - CAUSE
No one knows exactly what causes ASDs/Autism, but scientists think
that both genetic and environmental factors might play a role. While
autism was once erroneously believed to arise from stresses in a
child's psychological environment, modern medical evidence suggests
that irregularities in the development of the brain and central
nervous system give rise to the syndrome of autism. Causes of this
development are diverse and may include chemical exposure, viral
and genetic factors.
Autism - SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) cover a wide range of behaviors
and abilities. People who have ASDs, like all people, differ greatly
in the way they act and what they can do. No two people with Autism
will have the same symptoms. A symptom might be mild in one person
and severe in another person. Some examples of the types of problems
and behaviors a child or adult with an ASD might have follow.
Social skills: People with ASDs might not interact
with others the way most people do, or they might not be interested
in other people at all. People with ASDs might not make eye contact
and might just want to be alone. They might have trouble understanding
other people's feelings or talking about their own feelings. Children
with ASDs might not like to be held or cuddled, or might cuddle
only when they want to. Some people with ASDs might not seem to
notice when other people try to talk to them. Others might be very
interested in people, but not know how to talk, play, or relate
to them.
Speech, language, and communication: About 40%
of children with ASDs do not talk at all. Others have echolalia,
which is when they repeat back something that was said to them.
The repeated words might be said right away or at a later time.
For example, if you ask someone with an ASD, "Do you want some
juice?" he or she will repeat "Do you want some juice?"
instead of answering your question. Or a person might repeat a television
ad heard sometime in the past. People with ASDs might not understand
gestures such as waving goodbye. They might say "I" when
they mean "you", or vice versa. Their voices might sound
flat and it might seem like they cannot control how loudly or softly
they talk. People with ASDs might stand too close to the people
they are talking to, or might stick with one topic of conversation
for too long. Some people with ASDs can speak well and know a lot
of words, but have a hard time listening to what other people say.
They might talk a lot about something they really like, rather than
have a back-and-forth conversation with someone.
Repeated behaviors and routines: People with ASDs
might repeat actions over and over again. They might want to have
routines where things stay the same so they know what to expect.
They might have trouble if family routines change. For example,
if a child is used to washing his or her face before dressing for
bed, he or she might become very upset if asked to change the order
and dress first and then wash.
Children with ASDs develop differently from other children. They
might have large delays in language, social, and cognitive skills,
while their motor skills might be about the same as other children
their age. They might be very good at things like putting puzzles
together or solving computer problems, but not very good at some
things most people think are easy, like talking or making friends.
Autism - HOW DIAGNOSIS IS DONE?
The diagnosis is done clinically by assessing the presence and
severity of above mentioned traits.
Autism - HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT
Homeopathic medicines are known to have deep effect on human economy
and have been found effective in various psychological and devlopmental
disorders. The focus of homeopathy is not to treat the isolated
symptoms of Autism but to treat the child as a whole. Not only the
symptoms of Autism but also the general physical and mental constitution
of the patient, past medical history, medical history of parents,
information about pregnancy and vaccination - all are used to find
the probable cause in a given case and based on the final analysis
a remedy is chosen for a patient. The following medicines may help
in the treatment of Autism -
Autism - CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT
There is no known cure for ASDs. However, early and intensive education
can help children grow and learn new skills. The goal of these efforts
is to help with the difficult symptoms of an ASD in a child and
to improve the child’s skills that help him or her talk, interact,
play, learn, and care for his or her needs. Medicines can relieve
symptoms and be helpful for some people, but structured teaching
of skills (often called behavioral intervention) is currently the
most effective treatment.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Join support groups.
REFERENCE WORKS
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed, McGraw-Hill
Davidson's Principles and Practise of Medicine, 17th ed, 1996,
Churchill Livingstone
New Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory, William
Boericke, 2nd revised ed., 2001, B. Jain |
